Athletics

The Chicago Park District offers a variety of athletic programs for youth and teens to receive training necessary for competition at various levels with an emphasis on learning basic skills and incorporating the rules of fair play and sportsmanship. Athletes in these specialty programs compete on the local, state, regional and national levels. Teens are taught hands-on job training skills in the Sports 37™ program and all programs strive to encourage a healthy lifestyle.

Sports

The sports program staff supplements the sports camps offered throughout the Chicago Park District and provides technical support for region staff in regards to their sports programming. Sports program staff is responsible for running citywide sports competitions and organizing culminating sporting events and have a thorough knowledge of rules and regulations of the sports offered. The citywide sports are floor hockey, basketball, 2-ball, badminton, soccer, softball, wrestling, table tennis, track & field, volleyball, silver skates, cross country, and boxing. In addition to our citywide sports, we also offer specialized leagues like our inner city programs. These include basketball (youth and teen), flag football and baseball. Our ongoing partnerships with the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Cubs provide the much needed funding for these athletic programs. The Chicago Bears also fund the Jr. Bears and Nerf football programs designed to help kids get ready for football at the high school level.

Sports 37™

After School Matters (ASM) is a non-profit organization that partners with the City of Chicago, the Chicago Public Schools, the Chicago Park District, the Chicago Department of Children and Youth Services and the Chicago Public Library to expand out of school opportunities for Chicago teens. ASM aligns the resources of these partners along with resources of private and non-profit organizations to offer teens a comprehensive network of specialized opportunities.

Sports37™ engages Chicago's teens in fun, spirited activities that develop important life skills and a healthy approach to living while exposing them to a broad range of career opportunities in the fields of health, fitness, and sports. Currently, Sports37™ includes the sports apprenticeship, pre-lifeguard apprenticeship, shallow water attendant, instructor aide, lifeguard apprenticeship, stadium management, recreation leader, junior fitness cadet, cheerleading, recreation leader, early childhood music and movement, water safety instructor and Club37™.

Apprenticeships are hands on, interactive programs led by skilled professionals who provide teens with an opportunity to explore different career paths and develop marketable skills such as team work and problem solving. Apprenticeship programs operate at three levels of complexity: pre-apprenticeship, apprenticeship, and advanced apprenticeships.

Wellness

The wellness program focuses on providing the opportunity for all ages and abilities to enjoy a variety of physical activities, as well as increased awareness of the importance of healthy eating to improve overall wellness. We offer several varieties of fitness programs and special events to support the development of a physically active and healthy lifestyle. Staff members throughout the regions are trained in a variety of class formats that improve cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance and flexibility, with an emphasis on safety. Class formats and trainings include Mightyfit Kidz, yoga, Pilates, step aerobics, cardio kickboxing, senior fitness, kids Fitness, cardio dance, nutrition, adaptive fitness and walking programs. Wellness is responsible for equipment purchase, repairs and training for the strength and cardio equipment located in 60 fitness centers. Recent additions are 6 youth activity interactive gaming sites in addition to outdoor fitness equipment. Wellness program staff members are active members of the Mayor's Fitness Council, a collaboration of Chicagoland organizations with the mission to promote, encourage and motivate the development of a physically active and healthy lifestyle for Chicagoans of all ages and abilities. We also manage grant funding for Go Girl Go!, Wellness Demonstration Centers, Blue Cross Blue Shield, ABBOTT Foundation, and Achieve to support wellness programming initiatives in the parks.

The Chicago Park District is the largest municipal park manager in the nation and owner of more than 8,100 acres of green space. We invite you to take in a concert or a movie at one of our 580 parks, to expand your horizons by registering for one of our thousands of programs offered throughout our 260 field houses, to get a great workout indoors at one of our state-of-the-art fitness centers, or outdoors along Lake Michigan’s 26 miles of pristine lakefront, or enjoy nature with a peaceful visit.